Bear Lake State Park is located in the southeastern corner of Idaho near the Cache mountain range. At 20 miles long and eight miles wide, Bear Lake is a popular destination for water lovers, welcoming about 15,000 campers annually.
Known for its intense turquoise-colored water, Bear Lake is often called the Caribbean of the Rockies. A gradual slope to the lake bottom provides an enormous swimming area in the summer.
Motorboats of every size and shape are welcome to explore the lake, which is also a perfect paddling destination for kayaks, canoes, and stand-up paddleboards, with calm mornings and open water.
The lake features miles of sandy beaches and shallow water along the shoreline for swimmers and waders. It's also one of Idaho's best scuba diving sites, with clear water and interesting features like underwater cliffs and an artificial reef of sunken 1930s cars.
Bear Lake is home to a trophy cutthroat trout fishery where the Idaho State record cutthroat of 19 lbs. was caught. Lake trout also inhabit the lake and may grow to 30 lbs. Trolling and jigging from boats can be done throughout the year (winter and spring months being the most productive).
For more information, visit bearlake.org.